In a raw and emotional revelation, former Lostprophets guitarist Mike Lewis has broken his decade-long silence about the devastating aftermath of frontman Ian Watkins' horrific child sex crimes that brought the Welsh rock band crashing down.
The Day Everything Changed
Lewis recounts the moment his world collapsed when news of Watkins' arrest broke in 2013. "It was like watching a car crash in slow motion," the musician confessed, describing how the band's successful career evaporated overnight as their frontman faced charges of unspeakable depravity.
The guitarist, who co-founded the Pontypridd-based band in 1997, revealed the profound personal toll the scandal took on him and his former bandmates. "We lost everything - our livelihood, our life's work, and our reputation," Lewis shared, his voice heavy with the weight of years of reflection.
Living in the Shadow of Evil
For years, Lewis has carried the burden of association with one of Britain's most notorious sex offenders. Watkins is currently serving a 29-year prison sentence, plus 6 years on licence, for multiple child sex offences that shocked the nation and destroyed the band's legacy.
"People look at you differently," Lewis admitted. "There's this assumption that we must have known, that we were complicit. But the truth is we were as horrified as everyone else."
Rebuilding From the Ashes
The former guitarist has since found solace in new musical projects, including his current band Public Service Broadcasting, but acknowledges the Watkins scandal will forever cast a shadow over his career.
"You can't just walk away from something like that," Lewis explained. "It becomes part of your story, no matter how much you wish it weren't."
Now breaking his silence, Lewis hopes to finally separate his own musical legacy from the monstrous actions of his former bandmate, while acknowledging the permanent scars left on everyone connected to the case.
